Aviation from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands completed an intense phase of flights over Salisbury Plain as part of the Guardian Defender exercise, a crucial stage in the preparation for joint operations in the Arctic in 2026.
The activity brought together British helicopters Commando Merlin e Wildcat com NH-90 Dutch, reinforcing four years of ongoing cooperation within the UK–Netherlands amphibious partnership.
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In addition to the pilots, technical teams and support units participated in realistic training that simulated evacuation of injured people, handling of detainees and other operational scenarios. According to officials involved, Guardian Defender makes it possible to improve essential tactics and procedures to expand interoperability between the two nations within NATO.
The exercise is part of the preparation for Cold Response 2026, which is expected to bring together around 25,000 military personnel in northern Norway, and expands the history of Anglo-Dutch cooperation that has lasted more than half a century. The current phase also included embarked operations, with Merlin helicopters training aboard the Dutch amphibious ship HNLMS Johan de Witt.
Source: UK Defence Journal | Photo: X @RoyalNavy | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
Dutch and British pilots have completed intensive sorties over Salisbury Plain as they prepare to operate on #NATO’s northern flank together next year. @RNASYeovilton
— Royal Navy (@RoyalNavy) December 4, 2025
